My day job

I haven't talked much about what I do to bring home the big bucks (or, you know, the modest ones) and that's because we all have it ingrained in our blogging heads that Do Not Blog About Work is the first rule of blogging. But, I think that's changed some, especially if what you do is a very online-heavy job, and mine is (especially since the first of this year) and also if you don't have too many negative things to say about your job other than there isn't a margarita machine in place of the water cooler. 

So, I work at a publishing company. More specifically, I work at Smart Pop Books, the imprint of BenBella Books (the publisher of the fairly well-known plant-based diet book, The China Study). Smart Pop is pretty fantastic, and although my mortgage is funded by the company, I wouldn't drive two hours a day unless I really, really meant that.

At Smart Pop, we look at the literature, television, and film people love and basically ask: Why? We put together a group of wickedly funny and ridiculously smart people to contribute essays on a variety of different subjects on those properties, and they all answer the question: What is it about this book or show or movie that makes it a phenomenon, that makes it so cult-y?

Some of my favorites have been on: Gilmore Girls, Veronica Mars and on Ellen Hopkins' Crank and Glass books.

We also have some really cool upcoming ones, including one on True Blood this June (with some pretty cool contributors, including Jonna). For this title, we're doing something a little different and inviting potential readers (you!) to weigh in on two possible covers. Go vote, please, here.

Additionally, if you leave a comment on this post, I'll choose a winner (randomly and such) and let you select the book of your choice from our full Smart Pop Line. (Leaving this post up through next week, and winner will be selected by next Friday.)

You have supported me through so much, and it has always meant the world. So, I'm sharing a little more about myself and my life with you. Thanks, always, for reading here and wherever else I pop up on the Internet.

Comments

[jonniker]

For the love of God don't choose me as the winner (if I come up, you RE-RANDOMIZE), but I wanted to add that my personal favorite is the Charmed one, although all of the ones I've read are fabulous. Lost! The Lost one is excellent and timely in light of the end of the show.

But really, if any of you ever loved and watched Charmed, it's fantastic.

[jodifur]

wow, you have a cool job

[Manda]

How awesome Jennie! Can't wait to check out all the books!!
(and as usual, you are the coolest)

[Kristie]

Can I enter to win!? I hope so. ;)

[Nothing But Bonfires]

Wow, this is the coolest job ever! I just spent a ridiculously long time on the SmartPop website. Had no idea something like this even EXISTED. Oh, the essays I could write on My So Called Life, if only it were still relevant.

[natalie]

What a fantastic job! I think it's worth breaking the "thou shalt not talk about work on your blog" rule.

[Miranda]

Oh how I wish you'd shared this sooner! There have been awesome books like this all along??? How did I not know??

[Dolli-Mama]

I am so glad you posted those links, I found the Dollhouse essay contest and will be entering that! Heck yeah, Josh Whedon is a fricken genious and I love every eppisode of every show he has done. My sister and I used to watch Firefly marathons while doing laundry all the time.
Also, I hope I win this drawing because I would love to read the Gilmore Girls book!

[evilkittywonka]

I can fully attest to the fact that the SmartPop books are brilliantly done. I have the Supernatural one at the top of my wish list, and hope to pick it up within the next couple of months.

[Jess]

This is awesome! And it's so cool that you can openly blog about your job. Am jealous!

[ccr in MA]

Interesting, my voting choice is ahead 3-to-1. I kind of thought A would be more popular, but I like B.

[Katy]

Cool job! Working with smart people and dissecting pop culture? Awesome. I love learning more about online people.

[Sarah]

Very impressed with the job you have! cool beans. Your blog is awesome too! :)

[Deanna]

Just to echo everyone else...you DO seem to have an awesome job! Do all of us blogger-types dream of being paid to work with books all day? It seems we do.

[steff]

sounds like you have a super fun job! that's awesome!

[Candy]

I <3 when folks love their jobs....

[Ellen]

I think it's great that you love your job and that you want to promote your work! *Crossing my fingers that I win the contest!* :)

[rebecca]

I am totally jealous of your day job. Randomly pick me, please!

[Crystal]

I love Glen (1 or 2 n's?)... and Yara... and Leah (she did take one of my all time favorite pictures after all)... and the whole BenBella Crew!! Smart POP Rocks! :)

[NGS]

I done voted. For cover B if you're interested. Because I'm just that cool.

[Julie]

That's the kind of job I dream of. A 2 hour commute you do willingly? Is the office at the end of a rainbow? Awesome! So glad a cool person like you gets to do it.

[Sahara]

I am thinking of trying to start watching this show I've been hearing about--it's called LOST and apparently people really think it's the bee's knees. And there's, like, a polar bear or something? On a tropical island? Weird. Maybe it would be fun to read up on it too.

[Elsha]

Sounds like a cool job. I never blogged about my job because, in case you weren't aware, engineering is not very exciting. Not that being a stay at home mom is considerably more exciting, but at least people can relate.

[Leah]

Gilmore Giiiiirrrrllllssss! I'd take a two-hour commute for that, fo sho.

[Themoira]

Oh, what an awesome job! I've been a longtime reader and had no idea you worked in publishing. I am publishing ex-pat, sort of a similar company, so I can identify. Books about TV sounds like the best of all worlds!

[Danielle]

I love your writing style. And I love books!

[Jen L.]

Awesome job! I'm glad you told us about it. I'm working on a post about my (changing) day job, too. I think it's nice to be able to share more of what we do, especially if we can do it without fear of getting Dooced. :)

[Kader]

It's so cool that your day job and your blogging can meet up! I actually signed up for the SmartPop twitter feed and have been intrigued by all kinds of topics...

How lucky (and well-deserved) to find such a cool job!

[Belly Girl]

I can't believe cover #2 is winning by such a huge margin! It looks like a Budweiser print ad.

[Anne]

Very cool! I didn't know about Smart Pop Books until Jonna linked to the True Blood cover poll, but I am STOKED to get some of their books. I watch/have watched a lot of those shows/read those books/seen those movies.

[sensibly Sassy]

Your job sounds so awesome. Glad you realize how cool it is!

[Becky]

I didn't know books like this existed, but they sound awesome! I can't wait to check some out.
Also, I am extremely jealous of your job. I work in insurance, and it is about as exciting as you can imagine (usually not at all).

[Heather]

Hooray for loving your job! It makes life a little less stressful when you do!

[Abby]

It is amazing how a great job increases your overall happiness. Glad to finally know what you "do"!

[Steph!]

Just looked over the books, and there are SO MANY awesome ones! Ahh---totally overwhelmed by the choices. The Gilmore Girls essays are great...

[A.]

What a freakin' awesome sounding job. I would love to write about pop culture in that way - that would be ideal for me. :) (And Jonna will do so fabulously.)

[Linsleyd]

Very cool job! And I can commiserate with the commute - I commute 1 1/2 twice a day to a job I love!

[Sharon]

Sweet! I've had that Coffee at Luke's book on my Amazon wishlist for ages. Nice to see it comes from your company! If I win, I'd love the one on Lost, though - it's my current obsession.

[Jodi]

What a cool company to work for!

[heidi]

Wow! Thanks for sharing. I'll be checking out some of these. And I'd love to start my collection with the Gilmore Girls one.

[Tara]

I just spent forever on the Smart Pop site, and I found about 6 that I want immediately :) Such a great concept!

[Brandi]

what a great job! Thanks for sharing.